Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, part time

Study programme code PPU-AD

ECTS credits 60

Admission requirements

This course plan is based on the national Frame plan and regulations for Post-Graduate Certificate in Education as set by the Ministry of Education and Research 03.04.2003.

Post-Graduate Certificate in Education builds on one of the following educational backgrounds:

- Professional Skill Certificate/ Maritime Skill Certificate or other completed 3 year vocational training from upper secondary level, general qualifications, 2 years of theoretical vocational education after upper secondary school and a minimum 2 years professional practice

- Professional oriented university college education of a minimum of three years.

General description and profile of the programme

The programme has the size of 60 ECTS-credits and consists of the following elements:

Education 30 ECTS-credits

Professional didactics 15 ECTS-credits

Professional didactics 15 ECTS-credits

Supervised practice is incorporated in each if these elements with 12 weeks in all, divided into two 6-week periods. The first period is comprehensive practice, the second period is in-depth practice.

Education will give an understanding of how children and youngsters learn and develop their knowledge, abilities and attitudes - and how this happens in play between individual and social relations. Educational theory will make a basis for reflection and choice in lesson planning, and will relate to practice in primary and/or secondary education.

Professional didactics will give the students competence in planning, carrying out, documenting, and assessment of training and learning, based on the student´s subjects and working background. Professional and vocational didactics will be related to practice in primary and/or secondary school.

Comprehensive practice involves a work effort of six weeks and is placed in the first semester for fulltime-students, and in the second semester for part-time students. The comprehensive practice is related to the element of education. Students who have teaching subjects in both primary and secondary school, will have practice in primary school, Students who have teaching subjects in secondary school, will have practice in secondary school. The student must pass practice in order to enter exam in education.

In-depth practice involves e work effort of six weeks and is placed in the second semester for full-time students and in the forth semester for part-time students. In-depth practice is related to the professional didactic element of the programme. All students who have subjects that qualify to teaching in secondary school, will have their in-depth practice in secondary school. The student must pass practice in order to enter exam in professional didactics.

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning (formal, non-formal and informal) Arrangements for the recognition of prior learning are described in the information on the institution under "General arrangements for the recognition of prior learning (formal, informal and non-formal)".

Examination regulations and grading For a description of the examination regulations, see the Examination Regulations of the University of Agder.

For information about the Norwegian grading system, see ECTS credits and grades. Specific information on grading for each course is found in the individual course descriptions.

Graduation requirements The Examination Regulations of the University of Agder regulate the graduation requirements for each programme of study.

Learning outcomes

Through the programme he students will achieve competence within the following six areas:

1. Professional competence.

After completing the programme the student will be able to make use of, develop and evaluate his/her professional competence in school subjects.

2. Didactic competence (including method competence).

After completing the programme the student will be able to arrange for learning and assessment adjusted to each individual pupil based on the educational goals.

3. Social competence.

After completing the programme the student will be able to lead and organize training and development in his/her subject fields in cooperation with the whole school.

4. Change and development competence.

After completing the programme the student will be able to contribute to professional and educational development.

5. Professional-ethical competence.

After completing the programme the student will be able to show consideration towards fundamental social and ethical values in school and working life.

6. Management competence.

After completing the programme the student will be able to lead educational training in the school.

Assessment methods

It is emphasized that the students must gain competence in expressing themselves orally and in writing, in relation to reflections on educational and professional and vocational didactic work. In education and in professional and vocational didactic the student will work alone and in groups. The students will document their work in both the comprehensive and in-depth practice periods.

To a large extent ICT will be used as a tool during the programme.

Assessment during the programme

The assessment has as its objective to give the students feedback on their own development in relation to the learning outcomes of the programme and to give the students experience in assessment work as part of their future responsibility as a teacher. The assessment is given orally and in writing in relation to the student´s work with compulsory assignments.

Final assessment

In order to enter the exam the students must have carried out and passed all compulsory assignments in the programme, as it is stated for each course. Each course element has its own exam. Both practice periods must be passed.

Regulations concerning exam is given through laws of universities, university college, and in regulations of study programmes and exam at the University of Agder, and through directions for carrying out exams.

Precautionary evaluation

The university is responsible fro evaluating whether or not students are fit to become teachers. This is an evaluation that goes on throughout the programme, and will take place according to criteria and procedures given by the ministry (regulations regarding precautionary evaluation in higher education set by Ministry of Education and Research 30. June 2006.)

Student exchange The possibility to have practice abroad my be offered for the second practice period at institutions that the university cooperates with.

Occupational profiles of graduates and access to further studies Post graduate certificate in education qualifies for a teaching position in secondary school, adult education and in the upper levels of primary school.

Other information

Requirements for participation in practice:

A declaration of secrecy

A clean, less than 3 months old, Police record that shows that the student is not accused or convicted of any sexual assaults towards children, must be presented at the start of the programme.

Students who come from or have been more than 3 months in countries outside Western Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are required to have a tuberculosis examination.

Contact person Programme coordinator Hilde Witsø